Tree-holder.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

H. J. WAGNER.

TREE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 6. 1909.

H. J. WAGNER.

TREE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1909.

952,655 Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n'r FFIQE.

TREE-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY J WAGNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roxbury, in the county of Sufiolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTree-Holders, of which the following is a specification, ref- I erencebeing had to the accompanying drawuse, and is adjustable whereby treetrunks of various diameters may be supported therein.. 1

A further object is to provide a tree holder whichis constructed of afew simply formed parts and is strong, rigid and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterfully described and claimed,- and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating theapplication of the tree holder; Fig. 2 isa top plan view, the tree beingremoved; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the hue 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is abottom plan view; Fig. 5 is a similar view showin the base bars folded,and Fig. 6 is a detai inverted perspective view of one of the bearingmembers.

Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates two base bars disposed upon eachother and extending at right angles. A metal plate 6 is formed with acircumscribiiig vertical flange 7 and is adapted to be secured to theupper bar 5 at the center thereof. A screw 8 is disposed through saidbase bars and has a nut 9 threaded upon its upper end which iscountersunkin the plate 6. It will be noted that the screw projectsabove the nut and is pointed or conically formed, as shown at 10. Theplate 5 is further secured rigidly upon the base bar by means of thescrews 11. A hearing plate 12 is secured adjacent to the ends of each ofthe bars by means of the screw 13 These plates are formed at theirSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22-, 1910.

Application filed November 6, 1909. Serial No. 526,628.

inner ends with the spaced ears 14, and a spur 15 is integrally formedupon the bottom of the plates and is embedded in the wood of the bar 5,whereby the plates are securely held upon thebar against movement. Oneend of a supporting rod 16 isdisposed between the ears 14 and a pintlein the form of a bolt 17 is disposed through said ears and through anaperture in the end of the rod. The rod has free pivoted movement andthe screws 13 may be removed from the bearings 12 when the device isknocked down and folded, as will be later set forth.

A circular segmental holding ring is adapted to be positioned about thetrunk of the tree.- Each of the arcuate sections 18 of this holding-ringis formed with an ear at each end. The ears of the adjacent ringsections are disposed upon opposite sides of the upper end of thesupporting rod 16, and are pivotally connected thereto by means of thescrews 19. These screws may be of any desired length and are providedwith nuts 20 upon one end which are adapted to bind upon the ear of oneof the arcuate ring sections and hold the same in frictional engagementupon the tree trunk. It will be obvious that these screws may be of anydesired length whereby trees of various diameters may be positioned inthe ring sections.

In order to compactly fold the device when not in use, the ends of theupper base bar 5 have secured thereto on the under side of the bar thetransverse cleats 21, the inner edges of which are angularly disposed,as shown at 22. The other'of the base bars 5 is adapted to be swunginwardly between these cleats and is provlded with the angularly cutends 23, which when in folded position are substantially parallel to theinclined ends of the cleats. By thus forming the base bars, they may beswung together upon each other without the ends thereof binding, and aresecurely held in their folded position by the engagement of the angularedges of the cleats and the ends of the bar. It will of coursebQ'llIldGIStOOd that the hearing members which support the rods 16 attheir lower ends are first removed and the rods and the ring sectionsmay be securely tied together and packed away with the base until againrequired for use. It will also be noted that as the bars are swungtogether, the screw 8 is threaded through the same and draws the barsupon each other, so that when iio in folded position their separation isimpossible, it being necessary to exert considerable strength to movethe bars to their open positions.

In the operation of the holder, the tree is ositioned within the annularvertical flange 7 of the base plates 6, and the spur 10 upon the end ofthe bolt 8 is forced into the bottom thereof, whereby the tree will besecurely held from sliding movement within the flange. The ring sectionsare now dis posed upon the periphery of thetree trunk, and the-screwsconnecting the same with the supporting rods are'adjusted until the ringis tightly bound upon the tree, thus securely supporting the same in itsupright position. The base bars are of sufficient length to provide avery substantial and rigid base support.

While the holder is particularly adapted for supporting Christmas trees,it will be understood that flower pots may also be arranged between thering sections and the projecting end of the bolt may be disposed throughthe opening formed in the bottom thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a tree holder ofvery simple construction, which will at all times support the treerigidly in position so that the same may be readily trimmed ordecorated.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that numerous minorchanges may be made in the form, proportions and. minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the a same.

In a device of the character described, the

combination of a base comprising two pivoted bars adapted to be foldedupon each other, one of said bars having cleats secured to its underside at each end, said cleats having angular inner edges, the ends ofthe other of said bars being angula-rly out and adapted to be disposedbetween the angular inner edges of said cleats when in folded position,said bars being angularly arranged upon each other in operativeposition, a bearing plate secured to each of the bars adjacent to itsends having spaced ears formed thereoh, a circularplate securedcentrally upon the bars having a vertical circumscribing flange, thepivot pin of said bars extending above said plate and having its endconically formed, a supporting rod pivotally mounted between the ears ofsaid bearing plate and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom, aholding ring formed in a plurality of arcuate sections, the ends ofadjacent sections being disposed upon opposite sides of the upper end ofeach of the supporting rods, adjusting screws extending through the endsof said ring sections and the rods, nuts threaded upon the ends of thescrews to secure the sections in their adjusted positions, saidsupporting rods and ring sections being removable from the base bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HENRY J. WAGNER. Witnesses:

ED ARD J. FEIN, THOMAS GERHARD.

